But, wander through jungles, oceans, and skies, and you'll see that Mother Nature explored the boundaries of intelligence long before the arrival of formal education or modern workplaces. Intelligence in nature manifests in various forms, including memorization, communication, socialization, and more. They use this social intelligence to their advantage, especially when treats are up for grabs. HONORABLE MENTIONSArterra/GettyImagesWhile they didn't make the list of the top five smartest animals in the world, there are a few more species that deserve a shoutout. Together, these animals remind us that intelligence takes many fascinating forms across the animal kingdom.